If you can't afford guitar lessons, like many have said you can find great tutorials online.

Don't get me wrong, having one-on-one instruction is great, but you need to find the right teatcher and have the money and time etc...

I started off with guitar lessons then went on to teatch myself.

Independant learning is where the real progression lies imho.

Daomor

The question cannot be answered. The wisdom of the ages is: when
you are ready, the teacher will appear. How will you know? You will
know when you achieve the motivation to learn to play  the 12 major
scales in the first position; i.e., using fingers 1-4 on frets 1-4, and
to master the technique of sight reading basic melodies and
rhythms in all keys from the student book. Your goal is to learn all
the notes up to the 22nd fret. (The first 12 can be the hardest.)
At the same time, you will be picking up and adding chords along
the way, including the common barre chords, the major triads,
and their inversions.
Following this advice, you will select your teacher on the basis
of his or her willingness to guide you through this process, and
watch your progress. This is what is meant by the age old wisdom:
when you know what you want to learn, the teacher will appear.
I suggest saving time by learning the theory (chords, scales, and
rhythm) on piano. That teacher is almost impossible to find, but,
hark, the personal computer to the rescue. If I were to do it
over again, I would fully explore computerized teaching of theory.
After a couple of years, you will know all the scales and how to
sight read them. But that does not stop you from applying your
knowledge to the entire neck right away, so that if the challenge
was to play the pentatonic C starting from the 10th fret of the
D string or from the 14th fret of the A string, you are on it.
(You have been keeping  yourself  interested, breaking the
boredom of rote practice, by learning the neck in your spare
time. When the assignment was the A scale, you went ahead
and located the A notes wherever they appear on the neck,
because you are passionate about it.)
Saving money is important, but, more important is to not
waste money. One thing: make the notes with your finger
tips. The impression should go basically straight across
the end of the finger, near the tip. A teacher will make you
do this. Until that time, do not risk permanent injury
(bone spurs) by poor hand position. Also, the flat pick:
don't death grip it. Feel the pressure change on up and
down strokes, which you alternate, as a rule.
Sorry to sound pedantic. I'm not. But I have to write
this quickly and hope it helps. Only my opinions.

this is very informing...thank you for sharing all of your wisdom

****link edited****spam Russell Harding 3/11/09 11:58 pm cst.

Try to see if you have a freind of a freind or somehing that knows how to play guitar and check them out. If they are up for teaching you some tips, go for it! I had a friend teach me some stuff on the guitar and took the rest in my hands. I'm doing ok but I think it's practice that makes anything worthwhile!

Good Luck!

~Ray

Having formal instruction is worth the investment if you're serious about playing guitar

Agreed.

I've mostly taught myself everything I know on guitar and I hate my level of ability.
I wish that I would have taken lessons so that I can create music and express what I feel...instead of constantly playing other people's songs...badly.
Maybe I would understand more now instead of being depressed over my lack of understanding.

Dm

Thanks,
http://www.totallyguitars.com/

.  The electric sounds a lot better than my acoustic electric.  help me please.

I hope this helps a little, I videotaped this early this mornning its just a few ideas for playing lead guitar, this has to do with playing less notes and getting more out of the song by sustaining notes for longer durations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOgNk-Lv0Oc

  I would guess that the answer is yes!  After all, it all comes down to what sounds best to you..... and you don't see too many acoustic rythm players in rock music.  There are a few, but something like a Les Paul makes a nice back axe, for the SG to lead to.

I play acoustic and electric and have both wired and ready to change off as the playlist requires.  But I personally like the acoustic/electric for most everything and use effects to get the sound that "fits".

  Take Care;  Doug

              /Slaya

Scales sound boring and music (particularly piano teachers) teachers often drill you through them without giving any idea of what they are there to do. In guitar scales are the key to soloing, harmonic fills and lead lines. That A minor pentatonic you mentioned is behind hundreds of rock solos and once you learn it you can shift it along the neck for any key. Learn the basic shape practise going up and down it, then get fast and turn up the gain. Suddenly you're soloing for real.

Of course it's easier to make up your own free-style solo. Getting the ear and picking apart how big rock hits go together is much harder (dorian... locrian... modes... fear..) but a good tutor will help you. Let them know the songs you have been attempting and what is blocking you and they may hand you a working version a few sessions later.